Korea Herald 20090602

18 COMMUNITY

TUESDAY JUNE 2, 2009

Small but vibrant: Baha’Is in Korea This is the last part in a series looking into religion in Korea. The objective is to give expatriates a springboard from which to develop spiritually by providing the contact information. Feature articles have examined Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. — Ed.

In Gumi, a try for perfection By Robin Seila

GUMI, North Gyeongsang Province — On May 30, touch rugby teams from around the country traveled to Gumi for the third of seven tournaments in the Spire Korea Touch Championship. The tournament was hosted by Waegook Cook. The Gumi tournament is known for being the largest and one of the most anticipated tournaments of the year. Fourteen teams played this year, up from eight last year. The teams came from all over Korea — Seoul, Daegu, Ulsan and Busan. The teams ranged from teams with experienced players such as the Scoregasms and the Dutch Rudders, to a team that was formed on the day of the tournament day. Their team name was the Barbarians, and they represented seven countries, speaking 13 languages between them. Rich Buck summed up his team by saying, “We didn’t know the rules and we were phenomenally unorganized, but we had a great day learning how to play.” The Barbarians did not make the playoffs, but another new

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team, the Scoregasms, managed to come in second place overall. The Scoregasms started practicing together about a month ago when they learned of the tournament. They traveled to Gumi from Masan, which is about 50 minutes from Busan. The entire team is from New Zealand. “In New Zealand, touch is taken very seriously; everyone plays it. It’s not just a warm up game for contact rugby, the way it is viewed in other countries,” said Loren Aberhart. Jemma Moreland, from the

Scoregasms said, “I’ve had a fantastic time and I encourage everyone, regardless of age and skill level, to come out and play because it is a great day.” Moreland and the other players on the Scoregasms said they are looking forward to participating in the rest of the tournaments this year. The Dutch Rudders, a team comprised of players from New Zealand’s southern-most island, remained undefeated, winning their third tournament of the year. The Exiles had a strong showing, as usual, with a fourth

place finish. The Ajummas, a new team that made its debut at the Ansan tournament last month, improved dramatically to come in third overall. “It was an awesome day. The atmosphere and the weather were great. We couldn’t have wished for anything better and I’m looking forward to a great after party,” said Derrick Smith, owner of Waegook Cook. The after party took place at the Waegook Cook restaurant (www.waegookcook.com), where each team received a pitcher of beer. Awards in the form of bar tabs were given for the best try of the day, the blooper moment of the day, and to the top four teams: the Exiles, the Ajummas, the Scoregasms and the Dutch Rudders. For more information about touch, visit www.toucharugby.blogspot.com. Find the Korea Touch Association on Facebook, or email [email protected]. Practice takes place every Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on the Jamwon rugby pitch in Seoul (south riverside between Hannam and Dongho bridges). ([email protected])

PHOTO CHALLENGE WINNER — Now located at the Gwacheon National Science Museum, early Korean astronomers used this map Shawn Parker of the sky to track constellations. To participate, go to flickr.com/groups/seoulphotoclub

systematic study programs for inquires into the Baha’I Faith and the needs of the Baha’I community. “The Baha’I community is open to everyone and welcomes people from any religion to participate in its study gatherings, prayer meetings and important festivals. The community meets regularly to socialize with everyone “in their gatherings with spirit of respect love and unity,” explains Mithaq. They also study the Baha’I Writings and plan programs to serve the outer community in child education, junior youth empowerment and humanitarian community services aimed at spiritual, social and educational development. In an e-mail interview, Kamran Eshraghian gave some important background information on Baha’Is. He said that humanity has entered a new era of enlightenment whereby the earth’s inhabitants are now challenged to draw on their collective inheritance to take up, consciously and systematically, the responsibility for the design of their future. “Baha’I teachings highlight that appearance of religion cannot be seen as a series of independent and random events, but rather as a single endless process, that is called ‘religion’ with a common source and a common purpose as the catalyst

human body being highly interconnected. Therefore Baha’I communities in their gatherings consult and exchange ideas on issues pertaining to values, education, developments in the art of consultation, enrichment and empowerment of children and the youth through developing their understanding of virtues such as trustworthiness, truthfulness, compassion, sense of By Matthew Lamers justice and practical measures It’s a major world religion that can advance the prospects with more than 5 million followfor peaceful development of all ers. There are no priests. A peoples.” Local Spiritual Assembly is Members of democraticallyelected. It is practiced in elected Local Spiritual 127,400 locations — including Assemblies look after the affairs Korea — in 802 languages. It of the community and can come emphasizes the unity of the mafrom all strata of society such as jor world religions. housewives through to engiWhen they gather they disneers, doctors and university cuss how as individuals and as a professors — all serving the community they can contribute community for a one year term. to building a better world as The assembly operates on a their legacy. consultative basis and decisions The Baha’I faith counts itself are arrived at through majority as another of the world’s relivote. gions with followers in Korea. The assembly addresses the Firaydun Mithaq, a member needs of the community, for exof the Baha’I community, says ample education of children, that there are believers scheduling of devotional meetthroughout the country, includings, needs of elderly, and the ing in Seoul, Songnam, Anyang, kind of service they can offer Cheongju, Daegu, Gwangju, within a neighborhood. The Daejeon and Busan. elected should, in Baha’u’llah’s “Although the number of the view, consider themselves reBaha’Is in Korea is not over 200 sponsible for the welfare of all of active believers, the Korean humankind. Baha’I community is composed What does the Baha’I commuof vibrant and dynamic memnity strives for? “The well-being bers that are of mankind, its committed to peace and securiserve the Korean ty, are unattainT he Baha’I pers p e c t ive s ay s t h at t h e society primarily able unless and appearance of religion is progressive and in the field of eduntil its unity is ucation,” Mithaq firmly estabp roport i o n a l t o a n i n c re a s i n g s p i r i t u a l said. “They relished,” Eshragcapacity of humans as we advance. spect and cherish hian quoted the Korean culBaha’u’llah as ture and exalt saying. their religious beliefs.” for education and advancement “This is what the Baha’I comMithaq, an Australian with of humanity,” he said. munity strives for as they gath18 years of experience in Korea, Interestingly, the Baha’I per- er together in devotional meetholds a doctorate in education spective says that the appear- ings at homes, at Baha’I center and is a professor at Kyung Hee ance of religion is progressive such in Seoul or at houses of University in Seoul. and proportional to an increas- worships in several of the contiHe explained that Baha’Is in ing spiritual capacity of humans nents. These gatherings are Korea worship daily at their as we advance. open to everyone no matter what homes and often regularly hold “Over time, spiritual truth is religious background they may prayer gatherings in their ad- distorted, human virtues such have. Holy writings from major ministrative centers — in Seoul, as truthfulness, compassion, jus- religions are read by individuals. located at Huam-dong. tice, disappear. It is at this point “To participate effectively in There are elected bodies or of time a where humanity be- the struggle to bring material counsels in each city, town or comes in need of spiritual re- well-being to humanity, the relivillage that organize and ad- newal that new religion emerges gious spirit must find ... new minister community religious to facilitate humanity’s advance- spiritual concepts and principles affairs and activities. There are ment,” explained Eshraghian. relevant to an age that seeks to no rituals; in the Baha’I faith Eshraghian lives in Cheongju establish unity and justice in huprayers are offered voluntarily City, Chungcheongbuk- do. He man affairs. As the consequence, by individuals in the gather- received his Ph.D., MEngSc., the Baha’I community is closely ings. and BTech., degrees from the knit in thoughts — and work toThe faith is a relatively new University of Adelaide, gether to developing their underone, having been founded only Australia. In 2004 he received a standing of principles of the about 150 years ago by Doctorate of Engineering from Baha’I teaching that revolves Baha’u’llah in the middle of the University of Ulm, Germany, around such issues as equality of 19th century in Persia. for his research in the integra- women and men, harmony of sci(Baha’u’llah is a title given to tion of nanoelectronics with that ence and religion, elimination of the founder and is made up of of light wave technology. He cur- all forms of prejudice, universal two words: “Baha,” meaning rently serves as chairman of the education and elimination of exglory and “Allah,” meaning God. board of directors of four hi-tech tremes of wealth and poverty.” Putting the two words together, companies, holds an adjunct ([email protected]) you get “the Glory of God.”) chair at UKM in Malaysia, and One of the more unique is a visiting scholar at things about Baha’I is its decen- University of Adelaide. For more information on the tralized structure. Each center, Eshraghian was a member of Baha’I faith, contact Kamran whether in Daegu, New York or the auxiliary board of the Baha’I Eshraghian by e-mail at London, has an elected adminis- faith in Australia from 1974 to [email protected] or trative counsel that provides in- 1985. “Baha’u’llah compared the Firaydun Mithaq at mithaq99formation, study materials and world community to that of the @gmail.com

complete community group list Expat Living

Expat Living has scoured the internet and called dozens of people to compile the most comprehensive list of community groups in Korea. Whether you’re after a pool league in Itaewon, a debate club in Busan or a friendship club in Daegu, everything you need to be happy in Korea is here. To add your social group to this list, e-mail the group’s name, your name, phone number and the group’s contact information to Matthew Lamers at [email protected]. If you see this list anywhere else, it was copied from Expat Living! — Ed. Adoptee Solidarity Korea www.adopteesolidarity.org African Women’s Group (02) 536-0453 or (02) 797-2767 Animals (Animal Rescue Korea) www.animalrescuekorea.org Association for Teachers http://atek.or.kr

Basketball (this organization organizes weekly games) www.kena.kr

Cigar Seoul Cigar Aficionado Society http://seoulcigaraficionadosociety.blog spot.com

Baseball (Seoul, softball) Starts in June. E-mail [email protected]

Cricket shane_kennedy_nz@hotmail. com

Bible study (In Seoul) 011-359-1317 3 p.m. Saturday afternoons British Association of Seoul www.britishseoul.com Buddhism (Seoul International Zen Center) www.seoulzen.org Busan community information http://pusanweb.com

Club Italia www.clubitalia.or.kr Cycling www.mtbk-adventure.com Czech Club [email protected] Darts (Seoul Dart League) www.seouldarts.net Debate (Busan Socrates Cafe) [email protected]

Busan Foundation for International Activities www.bfia.or.kr

Democrats Abroad Korea www.democratsabroadkorea. blogspot.com

Busan International Women’s Association www.biwakorea.com

Daegu Artists [email protected]

http://emmainternational.tripod. com Europe Korea Foundation www.ekf.or.kr Football (American, KNFL) www.kafa.org Fencing www.seoulfencing.com

International spouses group www.iskakorea.com Irish Association of Korea www.iak.co.kr Jewish Community of Korea www.jewishkorea.com

Global Overseas Adoptees’ Link www.goal.or.kr

Korea TESOL www.kotesol.org

Gaelic Football (sport) www.seoulgaels.com

Korea Toastmasters http://khtoastmasters.ning.com

German Club www.deutscherclubseoul.de

Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network www.kaanet.com

Hiking (Seoul Hiking Group) www.meetup.com/seoul-hikers Hinduism (The Vedic Center) www.krishnakorea.com

Association des Francophones www.afc-online.org

Busan Photo Club www.flickr.com/groups/535889@N22

American Women’s Club of Korea www.awckorea.org

Book club Search “Mokpo Book Club, South Korea” on Facebook

Daegu Friendship Club [email protected] http://www.daegupockets.com

Hockey (ball hockey) www.cbhk.org

Canadian Women’s Club [email protected]

Daegu Photography Club [email protected]

Hockey (ice, for kids) www.jrkingskorea.com

Chinese Women’s Club http://ocwckr.spaces.live.com

English Ministry Minister’s Association

Islam (Muslim Federation) www.koreaislam.org

Baseball (Daegu softball league) [email protected]

International Friendship Club http://ifckorea.com

French speaking expatriates and Korean women www.cerclefrancocoreen.org

Daegu International Women’s Association www.diwakorea.com

Australian and N.Z. group www.anzakorea.com

Indian Women’s Club Annapurna [email protected]

Helping Others Prosper through English (HOPE) www.alwayshope.or.kr

Language Exchange www.iaminkorea.com Lacrosse www.lacrosse.or.kr Migrants in Korea www.migrantsinkorea.net Networking (Korean English Networking Agency) www.kena.kr Non-denominational Book Club elizabeth@elizabethpatchinsoutter. com

The Nordic Women’s Club Seoul www.kolumbus.fi/hannu.ruhala/nwc/a bout.html Pool (Itaewon Pool League) www.itaewonpool.org Pride Korea http://kqcf.org Republicans Abroad Korea www.gopkorea.blogs.com Royal Asiatic Society www.raskb.com Russian Community in Korea www.russiankorea.com Rugby (touch) http://touchtagrugby.blogspot.com Sailing (Busan Expat Sailing Association) www.busansailing.com Seoul Art Collective http://seoulartcollective.tk Seoul International Women’s Association http://www.siwapage.com Seoul Players (theater group) www.seoulplayers.com Seoul Photo Club www.flickr.com/ groups/seoulphotoclub Seoul Stitch N Bitch

http://seoulsnb.blogspot.com Seoul Tennis Club http://seoultennis.com Soccer (SSFL) www.ssflkorea.com St. Andrews Society of Seoul [email protected] Surfing club seoulboardriders@hotmail. com, Search “Seoul Boardriders” on Facebook Swedish Women’s Educational Association www.swea.org/seoul The Join Together Society (volunteer) www.jtsint.org Touch ruby, Seoul www.touchtagrugby.blogspot.com Ultimate Frisbee www.koreaultimate.net Vegetarian (Seoul Vegetarian Club) seoulveggieclub.wordpress.com Volunteer (PLUR volunteer group) [email protected] Search “Volunteer for PLUR!” on Facebook Wine and Women Korea http://www.ekf.or.kr